30-45 Hour Rule Information

You’ve been flagged to have exceeded the maximum allowable attempted hours for which the state indicates you may maintain your previously reduced tuition rate?

Basic Explanation: In attempt to be fiscally responsible, the State of Texas has put a limit on the number of hours you may receive your current reduced tuition rate.  This is known as the “30hr/45hr rule or excessive hours.” An average degree in TX is 120 completed hours. You may attend at your reduced tuition rate up to 30 hours above this number of attempted hours (150 hours total on most occasions). Students who began enrollment before Fall of 1999 have a maximum allowable attempted hours of 45 above the degree requirement (165 hours total on most occasions).

We want to help you. Below you will find the actions you should take when being notified that you have exceeded the 30/45 hour rule:

• Your first semester of being flagged: Complete the Permission to Release Credit Hours form.
  • Complete and submit to registrar@wtamu.edu as a PDF attachment. We will send it to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and get your official calculations as there are a few exceptions. This process can take about a week to 10 days and then our office will notify you of the determination via your WTAMU student e-mail address.
  • You will need to prepare to pay all tuition bills during this process. Under the 30hr/45hr rule your tuition will be significantly increased as the State of Texas may no longer fund you at your prior tuition rate. You may need to prepare for the increased tuition rate ahead of time. Many students may create a payment plan or emergency loans.
• If you have not exceeded your maximum allowable hours to maintain your reduced tuition rate, no additional charges will be assessed on your tuition.
  • You will have to continue to make any registration changes through the Registrar’s Office until you graduate. You can do so by e-mailing registrar@wtamu.edu from your WTAMU student-mail account requesting assistance with enrollment. Please be sure to include your full name, Buff Gold Card #, course prefix, course number and course section number.
    • EX. My name is John Smith, ID #0000000, please register me in COMM 1400 70
• If you are over the maximum allowable attempted hours you will be coded and charged under the 30hr/45hr rule set by the State of Texas.
  • You will need to prepare to pay the increased tuition rate which equates that of a true out of state student.
  • You can complete the Registrar’s Petition requesting that the 30 hr. tuition be waived. With this Petition you are asking the Provost to review your file and determine if a one-time exception may be made to the ruling. In the Petition you will need to clearly explain why you have so many hours and why they should grant your request (for example major changes, extenuating circumstances, nearing graduation). You will submit the completed Petition to registrar@wtamu.edu as a PDF attachment.
  • You will have to continue to make any registration changes through the Registrar’s Office until you graduate. You can do so by e-mailing registrar@wtamu.edu from your WTAMU student-mail account requesting assistance with enrollment. Please be sure to include your full name, Buff Gold Card #, course prefix, course number and course section number.
    • EX. My name is John Smith, ID #0000000, please register me in COMM 1400 70

Read more about the legeslation on 30/45 hr. here.